Buzzard Helicopter – Plans Built Helicopter Design

Redback Aviation’sBuzzardHomebuilt Helicopter

NOTE: The Buzzard Helicopter Project currently on indefinite hold!

The single seat Buzzard helicopter incorporates the simplicity of a basic aluminium airframe with easily maintainable design features. Originally based on the Lonestar kit helicopter of the mid 90’s, Redback Aviation found ways to improve a number of areas to increase safety and reduce maintenance of the helicopter.

The redesigning LoneStar one has been thorough though the new Buzzard personal helicopter still bears much resemblance to the craft that originally inspired its creation. We have stuck to the basic airframe layout but made mechanical improvements to some of the drive system and main rotor head. It has been re-engined now though still retains the short tail boom with cog belt driven tail rotor.

BUZZARD HELICOPTER SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

MZ 202 or Hirth 3202

Engine rpm

3200

Engine horsepower

55hp

Main rotor blades

Aluminium – composite optional

Main rotor diameter

20 feet/6.096m

Main rotor rpm

525-530

Tail rotor diameter

3 feet 6 inches/1.067m

Tail rotor rpm

3106

Fuel capacity

approx 10 gallons/37.8 litres

Fuel consumption

approx 5gph/19.5lph

Empty weight

254lbs/115kgs

Gross weight

660lbs/299gs

Rate of climb

1000fpm/5.08mps

Cruise speed

90mph/145kmph/78kts

Maximum speed

105mph/169kmph/91kts

VNE

115mph/185kmph/100kts

HIGE

6000ft/1830m

HOGE

5000ft/1525m

Service ceiling

9500ft/2895m

Height

feet inches

Length

feet inches

Width

5 feet/1.524m

BUZZARD HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX

Typical helicopter layout though utilizing cog belt drive:

The Buzzards drive system has been kept simple yet strong and reliable. Primary drive is by standard commercial helicopter style clutchable multi v-belts followed by an industrial quality cog belt to the tail rotor. The belt can be tensioned from the rear of the tail boom and checked mid span for deflection as per manufacturers requirements.

BUZZARD HELICOPTER MAIN ROTORHEAD

Standard two blade teetering layout with loaded thrust bearings:

A typical swash plate mounter on the main rotor shaft controls the rotor blades. The main rotor blades are mounted on thrust loaded ball bearings on a modern design rotor head similar to the Mini 500 offering strength and reliability.

BUZZARD HELICOPTER ENGINE INSTALLATION

Vertically mounted air cooled two stroke aircraft engine:

We chose to use the more widely accepted Hirth or Compact Radial Engine two stroke power-plants known for their lower rpm range and reliability. As the Buzzard exhibits such light weight, there is little need for excessively expensive, higher horsepower engines.

Running the two stroke engines within their limits for sustained or continuous horsepower ratings will result in adequate power and predictable reliability. Remembering that this helicopter IS NOT intended as a “cross-country” chopper, but rather an introductory sports helicopter – or “field-hopper”.

BUZZARD HELICOPTER PARTS – GENERAL:

Airframe and drive-line components for the basic helicopter layout:

As with any aircraft there is some machining involved in building the Buzzard although this has been kept to a minimum to reduce costs while still retaining a high level of safety.

It is recommended that all critical components be professionally engineered to assure accuracy. Parts count has been kept to a minimum to make the Buzzard helicopter an economical homebuilt helicopter project.

Due to there being quite a few new kit helicopters that are filling this niche very economically, we chose to concentrate on one design being the Spider helicopter. We may revisit this design in the future so watch this space! The Buzzard was originally designed to suit the needs of the many, while the Spider is a design of personal preference – a passion of building my own vision of a personal helicopter.

PLEASE NOTE:We have no other information on this design at the current time. If we return to this project, it will be publically announced.

DO NOT USE GMAIL OR YAHOO ACCOUNTS TO ORDER THESE PLANS! – 1. Gmail and Yahoo blocks our server, why? we do not know. 2. Gmail and Yahoo limits the size of the download, so we cannot send it manually! 3. Gmail and Yahoo blocks our email address or places it in your spam folder – so we have NO WAY of communicating with you or responding to your emails.

1 Commenton "Buzzard Helicopter – Plans Built Helicopter Design"

Hi Adam from Jim in Oregon. Sure hope this gets to you. I’ve written several other times with no luck. I’m enjoying the newly redone web page. Do you know of anyone flying a Lonestar on the west coast here in the states. Or even anybody who has experience with one. Tks

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